Sailing the Escudero

Yacht is from the Dutch 'jacht' meaning 'to hunt.' What originated in Holland as a means to chase down lawbreakers and pirates across the waters, yachts by their very purpose were designed to be lightweight and fast. By the early 1600s, these vessels fell into two categories - those used for naval duties, the other for sports. America's first yacht club, the New York Yacht Club, was founded in 1844 for local sailors to compete in racing competitions. Six years later the club built a 100-foot racing yacht called the 'America' and sailed across the Atlantic to race around the Isle of Wight against 18 other yachts. History was made when 'America' finished an unbelievable 24 minutes ahead of its primary contender, a signalman stating, "....there is no second.'" Named for the victory, the America's Cup was established and is today the world's oldest international sailing event.